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Tsarukyan Cashes $5.7 M Bet After Gaethje Victory

6/15/2026

27 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Arman Tsarukyan Cashes

Arman Tsarukyan earned $5.7 million after Justin Gaethje won the lightweight title at UFC Freedom 250 when Ilia Topuria quit.
He placed a $1 million bet on Gaethje defeating Topuria, which paid out $5.7 million.
Tsarukyan disclosed the wager hours before the main event after Dana White said a friend, not the fighter, made it.
He refused to cut to 155 pounds, staying off the scale despite being named backup for the main event.

Summary

Tsarukyan Dominates

Arman Tsarukyan beat UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson 10-0 by technical fall at RAF 10 on June 14 2026.
He earned eight points with two four-point body-lock slams, the first after countering Ferguson’s inside trip.
After the win Tsarukyan tossed his shoes, called out Colby Covington, a 2-0 RAF fighter, who warned there will be no more “cupcake” matchups.
The victory keeps Tsarukyan in contention for a UFC lightweight title shot.

History

Historical Context

After the Nevada State Athletic Commission formally sanctioned mixed-martial-arts in 1993, setting weight-class limits and a $5,000 licensing fee with a $2 million betting handle, the sport entered regulated oversight. Today, UFC fighter Arman Tsarukyan’s disclosed $1 million wager on Justin Gaethje revives that early tension between promoters, athletes and Nevada’s betting rules, prompting calls for renewed commission scrutiny.

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Arman Tsarukyan Cashes

Arman Tsarukyan earned $5.7 million after Justin Gaethje won the lightweight title at UFC Freedom 250 when Ilia Topuria quit.
He placed a $1 million bet on Gaethje defeating Topuria, which paid out $5.7 million.
Tsarukyan disclosed the wager hours before the main event after Dana White said a friend, not the fighter, made it.
He refused to cut to 155 pounds, staying off the scale despite being named backup for the main event.

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